Government continues talks with crossbench MPs on new 457 visa rules as clock runs down on Parliament

The Federal Government is continuing to work to secure support for two key policies as the clock runs down on the last sitting week of Parliament.

The legislation for the Gonski school funding is likely to get through the Senate today, but several states are still refusing to sign on to the $15 billion plan.

Another bill to toughen up rules for the 457 temporary skilled migrant program is hanging in the balance as the Government works to secure enough support from the crossbench.

The Government was hopeful there would be a vote on the bill last night, but once other votes were out of the way there was less than 10 minutes' discussion before MPs had to move on to the adjournment debate.

The proposed new laws would force employers to do labour market testing to prove they cannot find an Australian citizen to do the job.

Employers would also be required to spend a percentage of their total payroll on training local staff and 457 visa holders and Fair Work Australia inspectors would be given powers to investigate breaches.

Greens MP Adam Bandt has moved an amendment to ensure all industries are subject to the labour market testing.

"Look, I'm not going to stand in the way of reform happening in this Parliament," he said.

"The idea of advertising before 457 visas are granted is something the Greens have been pushing for for some time.

"I'm still yet to be convinced by the Government that there is a good case for excluding people like nurses or like engineers."

Independents have issues with bill

Mr Bandt's amendments have the support of independent MP, Andrew Wilkie, but Rob Oakeshott says he remains opposed to the changes.

"I actually don't think the law in the problem," he told Lateline.

"If there are allegations of rorting, or so-called rorting going on, the issue is the use of the law.

"From all I can see, [the Department of Immigration] and the minister have very clear powers at their disposal, including financial penalties including removing the ability for any business to have any future visa applications approved."

Independent MP Tony Windsor says he has amendments of his own but has not yet released any fine details.

"There is rorting – I don't think to the extent that the Minister has said, but there is rorting," Mr Windsor said.

"Hopefully we can come up with a simplified arrangement where Australians are first in line but we don't overcomplicate it so that business can't actively work."

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison says while the Coalition will not support the bill, they are in talks with Mr Windsor.

"That amendment, based on our discussions, may make a very bad bill a little less worse. We would take that opportunity to support something like that if it was in a form that we thought was appropriate," he said.

The Government too is still in discussions with the crossbench. If it passes, the bill still has to get through the Senate before Parliament rises at the end of the week.

Gonski bill could pass Senate today

The Government's Gonski bill is in the Senate and should pass as early as today.

But the bill does not refer to the Government's self-imposed deadline for state governments to sign up to the plan by June 30.

New South Wales, the ACT and South Australia have so far agreed to the plan while Queensland and Western Australia remain firmly opposed.

Education Minister Peter Garret said the Government would continue to negotiate with the remaining states and was confident more states would sign up to the plan.

Victoria's laws for disclosing political donations have long been criticised as among the weakest in the nation, but Premier Daniel Andrews says his proposed reforms will make the state's donations laws "the strictest donation laws in the country".